Yesterday we stopped into the Nudie Jeans Co. showroom in New York for the press preview to see what they’ve been brewing for upcoming seasons. If you’re following the Raw Denim Project, you know that Gordon’s jeans are Nudie and everyone at DT is a huge fan of the brand. We were met with piece after piece of gorgeous eco-friendly denim in exciting new washes, sensible and soft knit separates, Japanese fabrics, brilliant color stories in plaid workshirts, and plenty more. Here’s a summary of what we discovered…

The Nudie fw’11 collection was divided on three racks: Khaki, Indigo, and Black. This is the first season Nudie is using a dedicated design team for the collection (separate from the core denim line).

The results? A vibrant, cohesive story that backs up the Nudie brand seamlessly.

Indigo being the integral denim component, it featured jackets and jeans with accompanying knit T’s and indigo-check workshirts. Eco-washes were abound. The process by which the denim is treated, distressed, dyed and washed is completely kind to the environment. No chemicals are used. We were especially enamored with the colors in the Japanese plaid button-ups and verticle pleats in the denim jackets. The lab jackets (hand distressed and up there on the price scale, with good reason) looked like they’d been worn (with love, affection, and adventure) for years.

The Khaki collection is full of great transitional separates based on preexisting fits, with industrial peasant-esque knit tops and innovative outerwear. Think jackets that come apart at the lining so they can be worn on the coldest winter day or for an evening at a New England beach. Subtle details like leather patches gave it an exclusive feel.

The Black collection really got us going. A classic Nudie offering, denim coated with dry black paint in both jeans and jackets, is a canvas for the customer to de-construct according to their own lifestyle. Fibers already peering through the paint in the knee area, you could almost imagine how glorious these would look after six months of wearing them (maybe we should give Gordon another half-year assignment?).

The denim collection is, as always, based on the key concepts of eco-consciousness, and a garment that grows, ages, and molds with its wearer. Nudie jeans are purchased with a guarantee that the wear and natural distress caused by enjoying a pair of jeans will create additional character and stories on the surface and in the fit. The signature orange thread has been adapted to different locations (such as on the inside collar and at the hem, sometimes the back pocket), with other indigo threads appearing as well. A sophisticated step, detail-wise.

The backbone collection, which we introduced you to upon launch, was soft enough to sleep in and promising in its versatility. The 100% organic collection (produced via 100% organic methods) is comprised of 11 basics that cover ever base. We couldn’t help but ruminate over styling a photo shoot in these luxe basics, male and female models alike.

Check out more photos of the line below, and stay tuned for more Nudie fall 2011 coverage.